India MSW to Energy

A White Paper by EAI

www.eai.in

India MSW to Energy

A White Paper by EAI

www.eai.in

India MSW to Energy

A White Paper by EAI

www.eai.in

India MSW to Energy

A White Paper by EAI

Preface
With growing public awareness about sanitation, and with increasing pressure on the
government and urban local bodies to manage waste more efficiently, the Indian solid waste
to energy sector is poised to grow at a rapid pace in the years to come, opening up
attractive investment opportunities. As the industry is relatively new in India, a better
understanding of these opportunities in the Indian waste to energy sector is essential for
investment decisions.
The objective of this white paper is to provide inputs on the potential and opportunities of
the Indian municipal solid waste to energy industry. The white paper has a special emphasis
on practical and actionable intelligence for Indian entrepreneurs and businesses.
This document has been prepared by Energy Alternatives India (EAI), a leading Indian
research and consulting firm with a focus on renewable energy and clean technology.
I hope you find this whitepaper useful in your efforts to venture into the Indian solid waste to
energy industry.

Narasimhan Santhanam
Cofounder and Director
Energy Alternatives India (EAI) www.eai.in
narsi@eai.in

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India MSW to Energy

A White Paper by EAI

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India MSW to Energy

A White Paper by EAI

Contents
Preface ....................................................................................................................................... 1
Key Takeaways.......................................................................................................................... 7
1. Potential for Municipal Solid Waste to Energy ................................................................. 8
1.1 Introduction to Waste ................................................................................................................................ 8
1.2 Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) ................................................................................................................. 8
1.3 Municipal Solid Waste Generation and Management Scenario in India ................................ 9
1.4 Potential for MSW to Energy in India ................................................................................................... 9
1.5 Technological Routes for MSW to Energy ....................................................................................... 10
1.6 Prevalent Deficiencies in the MSW Management System in India ......................................... 13
1.7 Key Drivers Enhancing MSW Management and MSW to Energy ........................................... 14
1.8 Future Trends in MSW Generation, Management and Energy Recovery ............................ 15
2. What are the Opportunities in MSW to Energy for your Business? ..............................16
2.1 MSW Value Chain...................................................................................................................................... 16
2.2 Business Opportunities along the MSW Value Chain.................................................................. 17
2.3 Owning and Operating Solid Waste Management Facilities .................................................... 18
2.4 Strategic and Financial Benefits from Waste to Energy Business ........................................... 19
2.5 Potential Risks and Barriers in the MSW to Energy Business ................................................... 20
3. Is Waste to Energy the Right Opportunity for Your Business?......................................21
3.1 Companies that Could Benefit from the Waste to Energy Sector .......................................... 21
3.2 Key Success Factors and Competencies for Waste to Energy Business ............................... 22
3.3 Key Indian Players in the MSW to Energy Sector .......................................................................... 23
4. Summary .............................................................................................................................24
Waste to Energy Support from EAI ......................................................................................25
EAI Services for the Waste to Energy Sector .......................................................................26
Why EAI for Waste to Energy? ..............................................................................................27

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India MSW to Energy

A White Paper by EAI

Key Takeaways
About 115000 tons of solid waste is generated per day in the country. This
figure could be twice as much by 2020.
Municipal solid waste is a potential source for recyclable and inert
materials and can produce value added products, in addition to energy
recovery.
Business opportunities in waste to energy exist in all three stages of waste
to energy Waste Transportation, Waste Management Facilities, and
Waste Processing for Energy Recovery.
Indian government actively encourages private sector participation in
MSW value chain through a variety of business and operational models.
Currently, biomethanation and incineration are the most prevalent and
mature technologies for MSW to energy in India. Gasification and
pyrolysis are the emerging technologies.
Inadequate segregation at source, sub-optimal regulations and incentives,
inadequate treatment facilities and immature technologies are some of
the key challenges in this sector.
Key success factors in waste to energy include optimal technology,
efficient operations, focus on costs, and emphasis on environmental
protection.
Some of the prominent companies working in the Indian waste to energy
sector include: Ramky Enviro Engineers, A2Z, Hanjer Biotech Energies and
SELCO International.

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India MSW to Energy

A White Paper by EAI

1. Potential for Municipal Solid Waste to Energy

1.1 Introduction to Waste
Growth of population, increasing urbanization and rising standards of living have contributed
to an increase both in the quantity and variety of wastes generated by various activities.
Broadly, waste can be classified as urban waste, industrial waste, biomass waste and
biomedical waste.
Urban
Waste

Wastes from households, commercial activities etc. (excluding waste arising

from mining, construction or demolition processes etc.). This includes
Municipal Solid Waste (MSW), Sewage and Fecal sludge.

Industrial
Waste

Solid,

Biomass
Waste

Biomass waste is defined as biomass by-products, residues and waste streams

Medical
Waste

Waste generated at health care facilities, such as hospitals, blood banks as well

semi-solid,

liquid,

or

gaseous

or

residual

materials (excluding

hazardous or biodegradable wastes from industrial operations)

from agriculture, forestry, and related industries.
as medical research facilities and laboratories.

1.2 Municipal Solid Waste (MSW)

Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) includes commercial and residential wastes generated in
municipal or notified areas in either solid or semi-solid form. It consists of household waste,
construction and demolition debris, sanitation residue, waste from streets and so forth. Some
of the constituents of MSW are given in the figure below.
Municipal Solid Waste

Organics

Kitchen
waste
Agro-waste
Vegetable
waste
Garden
waste

Recyclables

Plastic
Paper
Syringes

Inerts

Sand
Pebbles
Gravels

Tablets
Tin can

Composition of MSW in India

Inerts
22%

Others
8%

Recyclables
20%

Biodegr
adable
50%

Metals
Glass

Source: CPCB, NEERI

Classification and Composition of MSW in India

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1.3 Municipal Solid Waste Generation and Management Scenario in India

Indian per capita waste generation is 0.2 0.6 kg/day, which is estimated to increase at
1.33% annually. As per estimates, 115000 tons of solid waste is generated per day in the
country. Management of MSW remains one of the most neglected areas of urban
development in India.
MSW management in India involves the interplay of six functional elements - generation of
waste, storage, collection, transfer and transport, processing and recovery and disposal.
Most of the MSW generated is dumped into land or in the outskirts of the city without any
treatment. Municipal agencies spend about 5-25% of their budget on MSW management. In
spite of such expenditure, the present level of service in many urban areas is so low that
there is a threat to public health and environmental quality.

1.4 Potential for MSW to Energy in India

MNRE estimates that there exists a potential for generating about 1500 MW of power from
the municipal solid wastes in the country. The potential is likely to increase further with
economic development. The state-wise break-up of the potential for power production from
MSW, is presented in the following table.
Potential for Recovery of Electrical Energy (MW) from Municipal Solid Wastes by Indian States

State/
Union Territory

Recovery Potential
(MW)

State/
Union Territory

Recovery Potential
(MW)

Andhra Pradesh

107.0

Maharashtra

250.0

Assam

6.0

Manipur

1.5

Bihar

67.0

Meghalaya

1.5

Chandigarh

5.0

Mizoram

1.0

Chhattisgarh

22.0

Orissa

19.0

Delhi

111.0

Pondicherry

2.0

Gujarat

98.0

Punjab

39.0

Haryana

18.0

Rajasthan

53.0

Himachal Pradesh

1.0

Tamil Nadu

137.0

Jharkhand

8.0

Tripura

1.0

Karnataka

125.0

Uttar Pradesh

154.0

Kerala

32.0

Uttaranchal

4.0

Madhya Pradesh

68.0

West Bengal

126.0
Source: TERI and MNRE

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India MSW to Energy

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Highlights from the Table

MNRE estimates that the energy recovery potential from MSW could go up to 5200 MW
by 2017. Of the existing potential, only about 24 MW has been exploited, which is less
than 1.5% of the total potential.

Andhra Pradesh, West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra, Karnataka and Uttar Pradesh
with heavy urban population and industrialized economy generate increased loads of
MSW and have significant power recovery potential - over 100 MW each.

Delhi, owing to its high population density, has an energy potential nearly equivalent to
that of Andhra Pradesh

Gujarat, being industrially advanced, holds significant promise for energy generation
from urban wastes.

Punjab, Haryana, Kerala, Orissa and Jharkhand exhibit only moderate potential for energy
from MSW in spite of relatively dense population.

1.5 Technological Routes for MSW to Energy

Energy can be recovered from the organic fraction of waste (biodegradable as well as nonbiodegradable) through thermo-chemical and biochemical methods. Incineration of RDF
pellets for power generation and biomethanation are currently the preferred technologies
for MSW to energy in India.
Some emerging technologies such as fermentation, plasma pyrolysis, microwave waste
destruction and laser waste destruction exist and are at various stages of commercial uptake.
These merit a continuing review to assess their relevance for possible application to the
treatment of specific waste types under Indian conditions.
The pathways illustrating the primary MSW to energy technologies are highlighted below:

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India MSW to Energy

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Major MSW to Energy Technologies and Pathways

Municipal Solid Waste (MSW)

Collection and transportation from point of generation

Cans, tins, pipes etc

Storage and segregation

Inerts (sand, stones, etc.)

Ferrous and nonferrous metals,

plastics

Recyclables
Organics (Hydro-carbon
materials)
Broken glasscontainers,
bottles, cups etc

Landfill

High moisture biodegradables (kitchen wastes

etc)

Anaerobic Digestion

Ceramics, concrete
aggregates, recycled
glass countertops

Low moisture organics (Polythene, rubber tyres etc)

Gasification

Pyrolysis

Incineration/Combustion

Digestate

Fertilizer
Producer Gas

Biogas
(Methane)

Fermentation

Organic
compounds
(methanol,
acetic acid
etc)

Ethanol

Syngas

FT Process

Syn-diesel &
Gasoline

Bio-oil

Pyrolytic gas

Ash

Biochar

Chemical
feedstock
(flavors,
adhesives etc)

Construction
material
mix

Electricity

Transport Fuel

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Heat/Cold Applications

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1.5.1 Comparative Evaluation between various MSW to Energy Technologies

Parameters

Gasification

Pyrolysis

Incineration

Biomethanation

Method

Thermochemical

Thermochemical

Thermal

Biochemical

End-Products

Producer gas
Syngas, Biochar
Partial oxidative
Conversion

Biooil, Biochar,
Pyrolytic gas
Reductive
transformation

Heat , Ash

Methane, Compost

Dry wastes of
synthetic and
biological origin
500-1300

Dry wastes of
synthetic and
biological origin
380-530

Complete
oxidative
conversion
Dry wastes of
synthetic and
biological origin
700-1400

Anoxygenic
microbial
transformation
Fluid rich
biodegradable
wastes.
35-70

High

High

Medium-high

Medium-High

Emerging
High Potential
70-80
Non-catalytic
Concerns with toxic
gases, organic
compounds
emissions and char
generation.

Not proven
Moderate
70-80
Non-catalytic
Constraints remain
as tar depositions,
char and volatile
organics emissions.

Most prominent
High Potential
50-70
Catalytic
Probability for
liberation of
irresistible, pungent
odor from wastes.

Feedstock
Preprocessing
Method

Shredding and
drying

Drying

Prominent
Moderate
50-60
Non-catalytic
Ash discharges
and evolution of
toxic gases from
partial
combustion as
limitations.
Drying and
pelletization

Permitted
moisture
content of feedstock

<15%

<15%

25-30%

50-60%

Fixed bed, Fluidized

bed and entrained
flow gasifiers

Fast and slow

pyrolysis

Single and multistage digestions

Syngas fermentation
and Fischer-Tropsch
reduction of syngas

Hydro-treating and
hydro-processing of
bio-oil to high value
organic derivatives

Mass burn,
Modular and RDF
incineration
systems
NA

Heat and power

applications.
Transport fuels.

Electricity and heat

generation.
Feedstock for
chemical derivatives
synthesis

Process principle

Feedstock
Requirements
Temperature
Requirements (C)
Cost (Capital &
O&M)
Prominence in India
Future Potential
Efficiency (%)
Role for catalysts

Environmental issues

Sub-types of process

Scope for
downstream
processing

Application of fuel
products

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Heat and power

applications

Sedimentation of
organic sludge

Catalytic
decomposition of
methane to yield
syngas
Fuel for heat,
electricity, transport
fuel, syn gas
generation

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India MSW to Energy

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1.6 Prevalent Deficiencies in the MSW Management System in India

There is a lack of proper MSWM services in the country primarily due to financial constraints
of ULBs, institutional problems within the departments, fragile links with other concerned
agencies, lack of suitable staff, and other allied problems. Some of the deficiencies in the
MSWM system in India include the following:
No Storage and Segregation of Waste at Source
Source storage and segregation of waste based on degradability and hazards and
recyclables separation is rarely done in India. Most households, shops, and establishments
throw their waste just outside their premises, on streets, in drains, in open spaces, in water
bodies, and in other inappropriate places. Insufficient segregation at source results in
suboptimal performance of MSW to energy activities.
Operational Inefficiencies in Primary Collection of Waste
Authorities consider themselves responsible only for waste collection at street collection
points and fail to provide doorstep collection service. Even though such service is now
mandated in the rules, lack of standardized procedures and irregularity in sweeping
accumulates the waste to remain in streets. Such operational deficiencies will result in high
costs for energy recovery.
Inappropriate System of Secondary Storage of Waste
Transfer station infrastructures (waste depot sites) are not spacious and are constructed
with a fore vision to store increasing loads of solid waste. They are often very poorly
designed and are not synchronized with the primary collection system.
Irregular Transport of Waste in Open Vehicles
Open trucks and tractors used to transport waste are loaded manually. This timeconsuming activity results in loss of labor productivity and increases the occupational
health risk to workers.
Lack of Waste Treatment and Inappropriate Disposal at Open Dumping Grounds
The MSW generated in Indian cities is, by and large, not treated but is directly taken to the
open dumpsites. Indiscriminate mixing of concrete debris with MSW makes landfill sites
irreversibly unsuitable for any energy recovery activity. Although India is known for its ageold technology of composting agricultural waste, composting of municipal organic waste
has been a rarity.

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India MSW to Energy

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1.7 Key Drivers Enhancing MSW Management and MSW to Energy

Stringent legislative procedures and environmental consciousness drive the effective
management of MSW to rescue the large socio-economic mass in the nation from hazardous
effects of municipal waste. Some of the key drivers for enhancing municipal solid waste
management in India are provided below:

Legal

Technological

The laws and regulations in Though

the

ability

Environmental
of The increasing awareness and

India at the municipal and technology to support MSWM concern

among

public

and

city levels are becoming is still limited, development of government for protection of
stringent than ever before. new

and

more

effective environment is one of the key

The consequent threat of technologies will act as a key drivers for MSWM.
penalties could act as an driver to shape the progress of
important driver for MSW MSW management industry.
management (MSWM)
Socio Economic

Developmental and
Competitive

Incentives

The poorer sections of the Competition between cities to A

number

of

current

and

society get affected most by provide a clean city with good emerging incentives CDM or
the harmful consequences municipal

environmental carbon credits, capital subsidies,

of unmanaged waste. With infrastructure,

in

Indian
large

cities

populations
level,

health

problems

incentives

such

as

tax

under driver. This appears to be holidays- can accelerate adoption

significant particularly important in India of waste to energy

trauma

encountered.

to high feed in tariffs and other

comprising attract investment can be a key fiscal

poverty
societal

order

and where competition for foreign

are information

technology

investment is strong.

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India MSW to Energy

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1.8 Future Trends in MSW Generation, Management and Energy Recovery

Now

Future

MSW Generation
Amount of MSW 55 million tonnes / Year
Generated in India

Waste Composition

MSW Management

300 - 400 million tonnes/year by

2030

Organic fraction of MSW Organic fraction of MSW will

constitute
the
highest increase slightly. While inert
percentage followed by inerts
materials
will
decrease
considerably,
the
recyclable
fraction, consisting of plastic,
paper, and glass, will increase.
MSW Management
The institutional constraints
within the state government and
urban local bodies machinery,
such as lack of technical experts
to identify bankable publicprivate
partnerships
(PPP)
projects, have resulted in poorly
conceived PPP framework and
projects.

New trends will emerge as Public

Private Partnerships (PPP) models
gain pace with municipalities
desiring to bring in outside
expertise, technology, and project
management skills to improve
service and delivery efficiency.

MSW to Energy
Energy
Potential

Recovery

1500 MW

Energy
Recovery Biomethanation
Options from MSW
incineration of RDF Pellets

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5200 MW by 2017
and Plasma arc gasification and ash
melting
technology,
thermal
decomposition technology for
dioxins.

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India MSW to Energy

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2. What are the Opportunities in MSW to Energy for your

Business?
2.1 MSW Value Chain
In many Indian cities, the MSW collection, segregation, transportation, processing and
disposal are already being carried out by private companies under the operational control of
the respective municipal corporations, and the state governments enforce regulatory
policies.
A typical waste handling system in a country like India includes the following elements: waste
generation and storage, segregation, reuse, and recycling at the household level, primary
waste collection and transport to a transfer station or community bin, management of the
transfer station or community bin, secondary collection and transport to the waste disposal
site (or) energy recovery facility, waste disposal in landfills (or) processing for energy
recovery.
The schematic sketch below illustrates the steps carried out in managing the solid wastes in
India.
Source
Storage and
Segregation

Collection and
Transportation

Transfer
station

Waste
Transportation

Recyclable
Materials
Separated

Disposal to
Landfills

Processing
for Energy
Recovery

MSW Collection to Energy Value Chain

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India MSW to Energy

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2.2 Business Opportunities along the MSW Value Chain

Business opportunities are present in every component mentioned above. The varied
business opportunities that exist along the MSW value chain has been discussed below:
MSW Value Chain

Business Opportunities

Primary collection and Collection of reusable plastics and metals etc for sale in local
segregation of inerts,
market.
dry
organics
and Waste Processing and sell RDF pellets to biomass power
others.
plants.
Mobilizing construction debris to make tiles and bricks
Separation
of
wet Production and sale compost to bio fertilizer firms.
organic wastes
Biogas based power generation from sludge for selling it to
the grid.
Secondary
collection Maintenance of transfer stations
and storage
High throughput screening of materials for recycling, energy
recovery and land fill disposals.
Recycling of wastes
Recyclable commodity transactions from transfer stations
Sale of recycled plastic or metal granules
Conversion of processed wastes to industrial commodities
Transportation
and Transporting solid waste from the source to the landfill or to
logistics
the processing centers for energy recovery.
Revenues from automobile manufacturing and sales to
corporate bodies and contract holders etc
MSW
to
energy Production of machineries and equipments for energy
recovery
recovery technologies
Decentralized technology installations.
Power generation and sale of power
Production and sale of processed organic feed stocks from
MSW
Income from Certified Emission Reductions(CERs)
Management of wastes Design and construction of secured landfills
at dumpsite
Urban landscape development at abandoned landfills
Organization/financing Debt and equity financing
for service and value
chain enterprises

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India MSW to Energy

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2.3 Owning and Operating Solid Waste Management Facilities

Indian government actively promotes the private sector participation in MSW value chain
through development of defined business models on contract term basis. The various
business opportunities and models for private sector participation in Indian MSW value chain
are summarized in the following table.
Operations in MSW

Business Model

Average tenure of the

project (years)

MC/Service

3-8

Collection, transportation and

cleaning

contract/BOOT*

Development of transfer station

MRTS & BOOT/DBFOT

20

BOOT/DBFOT/BOO*

20-35

MC/DBFOT*

3-20

Mostly on BOOT

20- 30 (Some project

tenures are linked to the
life of the assets)

and transportation
Waste processing facility to
derive energy
Development of sanitary
landfills and post closure
maintenance
Integrated MSW Management

*BOOT Build Own Operate Transfer; BOO- Build Own Operate; DBFOT- Design Build Finance Operate Transfer; MCManagement Contract; MRTS- Mechanized Refuse Transfer Station

The general PPP contract structure for an MSW to energy processing facility operating on BOT
model is illustrated below
Nominal lease rentals

Power Purchase Agreement

Municipality

Min assured MSW quantity

/ULB/

Royalty/Tipping Fee per MT

State Electricity Board

Payments against

State

(SEB)

sale of power

Agency

Grants= % X of Project cost

Contractor

for

waste

processing

Source: http://www.urbanindia.nic.in/programme/uwss/Term_Sheet_Processing.pdf

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India MSW to Energy

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2.4 Strategic and Financial Benefits from Waste to Energy Business

Profitability - If the right technology is employed with optimal processes and all
components of waste are used to derive value, waste to energy could be a profitable
business. When government incentives are factored in, the attractiveness of the business
increases further.
Government Incentives - The government of India already provides significant
incentives for waste to energy projects, in the form of capital subsidies and feed in tariffs.
With concerns on climate change, waste management and sanitation on the increase (a
result of this increasing concern is the newly formed ministry exclusively for Drinking
Water and Sanitation), the government incentives for this sector is only set to increase in
future.
Related Opportunities - Success in municipal solid waste management could lead to
opportunities in other waste such as sewage waste, industrial waste and hazardous
waste. Depending on the technology/route used for energy recovery, eco-friendly and
green co-products such as charcoal, compost, nutrient rich digestate (a fertilizer) or
bio-oil can be obtained. These co-product opportunities will enable the enterprise to
expand into these related products, demand for which are increasing all the time.
Emerging Opportunities - With distributed waste management and waste to energy
becoming important priorities, opportunities exist for companies to provide support
services like turnkey solutions. In addition, waste to energy opportunities exist not just in
India but all over the world. Thus, there could be significant international expansion
possibilities for Indian companies, especially expansion into other Asian countries.

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India MSW to Energy

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2.5 Potential Risks and Barriers in the MSW to Energy Business

Policy & Regulatory Barriers

Lack of clarity of government policies and incentives While MSW management is an

important aim for every state government and municipal body in India, this goal has not
translated itself into clear policies on contracts, feed-in-tariffs and other incentives.

Lack of initiatives from key stakeholders While the roles of the various stakeholders ULBs,
pollution control boards etc are clear on paper, there is lack of proactive measures and
initiatives from many of these stakeholders. This is a bottleneck for MSW projects that depend
so much on governmental approvals for many aspects.

Environmental & legal Some MSW to energy plants in India, as well as worldwide, have been
the subject of litigation from environmentalists, society activists and NIMBY neighborhood
residents. This has been especially true for incineration-based projects, which are still the
dominant technology for MSW-based power plants.
Financial Barriers

Most solid waste to energy projects are capital intensive. Raising significant capital for an
emerging sector is often difficult.
Poor financial standing of the state utilities along, with lack of proper policy back up from the
government has resulted in uncertainties over timely revenues from sale of power. Debt
instruments dont usually work when the revenue stream is unattractive.
Availability of waste at zero or near-zero cost which is a vital part of the revenue model, but
this is not achievable on a consistent basis
Waste to energy projects are considered as an unsafe investment by some due to lack of short
term returns
Technological Barriers

Some of the emerging technology options large scale gasification for instance - are yet to be
proven on a commercial scale.
The characteristics of waste vary with region, source and scale, resulting in uncertainties over
optimal designs and processes.
Lack of indigenously developed technology and skilled manpower for emerging process routes
such as gasification and pyrolysis.
Other Barriers

Long lead time for completing all the formalities/ documentation and getting all the approvals.
Lack of expertise to understand, develop, appraise and put in place a structured and viable
business model for these projects.
Shifting priorities of the urban local bodies from waste-to-energy to other issues resulting in
diversion of funds and other support.
Lack of clarity for investors in the roles and responsibilities of Urban Local Bodies (ULBs)
(Public Health and Engineering Departments (PHEDs), Boards, Municipalities, etc).

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India MSW to Energy

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3. Is Waste to Energy the Right Opportunity for Your

Business?
3.1 Companies that Could Benefit from the Waste to Energy Sector
Companies in domains such as renewable energy (solar, wind, biomass etc.), Engineering,
Procurement and Construction (EPC), transportation and logistics, sanitation and
environment, small and large scale power plants, facilities management etc will be ideally
suited for the waste to energy business. The table below outlines the type of companies that
will be benefitted in each part of the waste to energy value chain.

Recycling companies
Rag pickers
Other informal sector participants

Segregation of wet wastes

and processing

Farmers
Fertilizer companies, Agro-market enterprises
Other informal sector participants

Transport and logistics

EPCs
Locomotive manufacturing companies (Heavy and Light)
Private vehicle service stations, Transport agencies
Part time workers under contract

Storage & secondary

collection

EPCs
Construction companies
MSW junk shop owners
Logistic services

Recycling of wastes

EPCs
Material Recovery Facility (MRF) operators
Intermediate material processing cottage units
Environmental engineering companies
Small and medium junk shop owners

MSW waste to energy

recovery

Technology providers and fabricators

IPPs and CPPs
Service technicians
Producers and dealers of MSW derived RDF pellets.

EPCs
Civil infrastructure developers

Segregation of dry waste, reusable, inerts etc

Management of wastes at
landfills

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3.2 Key Success Factors and Competencies for Waste to Energy Business
Optimal technology The most appropriate technology depends on multiple aspects such
as amount of waste generated, degree of segregation and ultimate end product. It is critical
for the users of technology to consider all these aspects intensively before investing in a
specific technology.
Efficiency in every aspect of logistics and transportation Even in developed countries,
significant efficiencies can be incorporated into the logistics/transportation stage of the
waste management value chain. In developing countries such as India, the scope for
improvement in efficiencies is significant, and such improvements could have a significant
impact on the financial sustainability of the entire project
Ensuring benefits for all the stakeholders In India, waste management has diverse
stakeholders, some of them in the informal sector. Rag pickers represent one prominent
category in this context; another is the society in the vicinity of dump yards, landfills or waste
to energy power plants. Unless the business model is so structured as to provide benefits to
all the stakeholders, a number of operational and legal problems could arise.
Ensuring reliable supply of feedstock at low or no cost It is critical for the waste to
energy project developer to ensure that the generator of the waste or the municipal
corporation provides the waste at no cost, and in addition provides a tipping fee. The
processes for treatment of waste and subsequent energy generation are costly, and these
costs need to be offset through zero cost feedstock and availability of additional
monetizations such as tipping fees.
Emphasis on environmentally sound practices along the entire operational value chain
Some incineration-based waste to energy plants in India as well as worldwide have faced
significant opposition from environmental regulators and civil society, owing to allegations
of pollutants being released to the environment. Such social and legal concerns could
severely affect the sustainability of waste to energy power plants. Power project owners need
to undertake extensive analysis of all the aspects along the value chain that could have
adverse environmental impacts, and devise suitable remediation plants.

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India MSW to Energy

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3.3 Key Indian Players in the MSW to Energy Sector

Company
M/S Asia Bio- energy Pvt
Ltd (ABIL)
Cicon Environment
Technologies
Bermaco/WM Power Ltd
Sound craft Industries
Hydroair Tectonics
Limited
Ramky Enviro Engineers
Ltd

A2Z Group of Companies

Headquarters
Highlights
Biomethanation
Chennai
Follows Biogas induced mixing arrangement(BIMA) technology for a 5.1 MW MSW to energy
project
Bhopal

Upflow Anaerobic Sludge Blanket (UASB)

technology and activated sludge process are
followed in installations
Navi Mumbai
Completed 11 MW biogas plant in Mumbai using
WABIO process.
Mumbai
Installing 12.8 MW plant at Mumbai with
technology from Ericsons, USA
Navi Mumbai
Adopting aerated and UASB technologies for the
treatment of waste sludge and biogas generation
respectively.
Hyderabad
Undertaking comprehensive biomethanation
projects coupled to secure composting and
landfills. Also involved in incineration and
presently operating India's largest waste
incinerator at Taloja, Maharashtra.
Combustion /Incineration
Gurgaon
RDF based combustion technology with scope for
cogeneration of heat and power.

Hanjer Biotech Energies

Mumbai

Developing 15 MW combustion power plant in

Surat District with MSW based RDF pellets as fuel.

SELCO International
Limited

Hyderabad

East Delhi Waste

Processing Company Pvt
Ltd

New Delhi

SELCO setup the first commercial Municipal Solid

Waste-processing unit in India in 1999. Have
installed 6.6 MW using RDF pellets as energy
source.
Implementing 10 MW incineration power plant
with MSW derived RDF pellets as fuel.

Zanders Engineers
Limited
UPL Environmental
Engineers Pvt Ltd

Gasification
Mohali
Has a collaborative gasification technology to
process multiple feedstocks including MSW for
power
Vadodara
Advanced
gasification
technology
with
destruction efficiency of 99.9% and emissions well
below thresholds.

*The above companies could in future be using multiple technologies and process routes

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India MSW to Energy

A White Paper by EAI

4. Summary
The business of generating energy from solid waste (especially municipal solid waste from
urban areas) is entering a period of rapid growth in India. The dual pressing needs of waste
management and reliable renewable energy source are creating attractive opportunities for
investors and project developers. Early movers who have identified the right technologies are
poised to grow in this promising industry.
At the same time, significant barriers exist. The yet to be commercialized technologies, high
capital requirements, predominant dependence on government machineries for many parts
of the business value chain and a sub-optimal regulatory environment present significant
industry challenges. These challenges have resulted in many critical questions regarding
waste to energy/value project viability remaining unanswered.
The complexity of navigating through these challenges calls for a clear understanding of the
stakeholders and their roles, business models, and technologies behind the waste-to-energy
solutions. Given the need for critical knowledge on the viability of waste to energy projects
before venturing into this niche sector, assistance from an advisory and research firm is
imperative.
EAI has been researching the waste to energy sector in India for the past few years, and we
have developed an exhaustive understanding of the various technology options for waste to
energy. We have worked with prestigious clients such as Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation
and Pepsi Co. for waste to energy projects, and can offer actionable market intelligence and
support for those keen on exploring this sector.

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India MSW to Energy

A White Paper by EAI

Waste to Energy Support from EAI

If you are looking for business and technology support for waste to
energy, look no further than EAI.
Areas of Expertise in Waste Management
EAIs waste to energy division can provide extensive research and consulting assistance for
energy recovery from the following types of waste:

Municipal Solid Waste

Industrial Solid and Liquid Waste
Agro Residues and Crop Waste
Sewage Waste and Fecal Sludge
Hazardous Waste

Our team has excellent exposure to energy recovery using the following types of processes:

Anaerobic Digestion / Composting

Gasification
Pyrolysis / Thermal Depolymerization
Fermentation
Combustion / Incineration

Clients
EAI consulting team has been assisting several organizations in diverse renewable energy
domains. The fact that a major percentage of our business comes from client referrals bears
ample testimony to the quality of our research and consulting.
EAI has undertaken Waste to Energy research projects for many clients including global
clients such as Pepsico and Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.
Some of our other esteemed consulting clients include
Reliance Industries
Vedanta Resources
World Bank
Minda Group
iPLON GmbH

Bhavik India Group

Green Concretex Global
Agarwal Group
Jivanlal and Sons Group
Indo-Italian Chamber of Commerce

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India MSW to Energy

A White Paper by EAI

EAI Services for the Waste to Energy Sector

Market Intelligence

Market and region specific

Techno Commercial
Feasibility Consulting

Financial and Business

Advisory Services

Feasibility analysis for

potential analysis and

different process or

unique business plans

forecasting for waste to

technology routes

to attract sources of

energy sector in India.

finance.

Identification of

Intelligence on all the

technology transfer or joint

current and emerging

venture partners for

differentiated waste to

technology or process

implementation

energy business

routes for waste to energy

Inputs on all the

government regulations or
incentives and approvals
relating to waste
management and waste to

Development of

models with highest

value to all the

Financial modeling and

stakeholders

techno economic
valuations to assess the
viability of different waste

Investment structuring
and financing support

to energy technologies

for waste to energy

energy projects

Development of

projects

Intelligence on current

Leveraging CDM, REC

incumbents and

and other benefits to

stakeholders in the Indian

increase the

waste management and

attractiveness of waste

waste to energy projects

to energy projects

Key success factors and

bottlenecks that critically
influence the waste to
energy industry in India.

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India MSW to Energy

A White Paper by EAI

Why EAI for Waste to Energy?

EAI is one of the few companies in India who have in depth knowledge of the market,
technology and business aspects of waste to energy industry across its entire value chain.
We have an exceptional understanding of the technology options and process routes for
waste management for diverse types and scale of waste.
Our past work on diverse assignments in waste to energy for global companies such as
Pepsi Co., Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation etc., and our current assignments in this field
have provided our team with unique perspectives and insights on all the key challenges
and bottlenecks in the entire value chain.
Our large network of technical contacts for waste to energy in India and globally will
assist our clients get easier access to latest technological solutions.
Our multi-disciplinary team with chemical and biochemical technology professionals
ensures that our recommendations will always come with a seal of scientific approval.
Our management team comprising professionals from IITs and IIMs ensure that our
recommendations, blue prints and business models are powerful and state- of- the - art.

To know more on how EAI can assist you, contact

Narasimhan Santhanam
Mob: +91-90435 39679
Email: narsi@eai.in

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